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Brief Synopsis

Irish Americans Michael O'Rourke and Dennis Dugan run rival Bowery beer gardens in turn-of-the-century New York. After Michael steals Bonnie Latour, Dennis' headline act, and puts her in his Crystal Palace show, Dennis tries to repossess Bonnie's wardrobe from off her back. He is soon arrested, but is bailed out by Michael. Later, Tammany Hall political Tom Harvey comes down to the Bowery with Lillian Russell, the musical comedy star. When she goes into the Crystal Palace, Dennis tricks Michael into insulting the performer by asking her to sing. In turn, she goes into Dennis' Shamrock Gardens and readily volunteers to perform her signature song, "Under the Bamboo Tree." With Harvey's help, Dennis opens up a theater on 14th Street, but not to be outdone, Michael opens his own theater down the block. While Dennis' shows struggle at the box office, Michael attracts large crowds by stealing his rival's ideas and improving on them. One day, however, Dennis spies Peggy Fleming's beautiful legs in a window of Madame Alda's boardinghouse and offers to make her a Broadway star. Though she initially rejects show business as a career, Peggy quickly changes her mind when she meets and falls in love with Ted Barrie, the show's songwriter. The Girl with Million Dollar Legs is a great success, and Peggy becomes the toast of New York. Upset by the attention paid to Peggy by Harvey, a jealous Ted breaks off their relationship, even though she is only seen with the politician for publicity reasons. That night, an upset Peggy is nearly killed when she falls off the stage into the orchestra pit. The two lovers are then reunited, but because of Peggy's severe injuries, Dennis is forced to close the show. In fact, the producer considers quitting until Michael tells him that he is thinking of opening up a theater in the Broadway district, once he raises the money. Father Kelly then convinces the two producers to pool their resources and become partners. Their first show together faces its first trial when Walter Rogers, the director, insists that husband-and-wife dance team Joe and Bessie Kirby, who have been with Dennis since his Bowery days, be replaced. The two overhear Rogers' edict, quit the show and open a dancing school. Years later, Dennis and Michael are great successes and are able to sign European star Marina to headline their new show. Though her first Broadway musical is a hit, Dennis next insists on producing a drama starring her, thus causing a break in his partnership with Michael. When Marina learns that Dennis has lost all his money producing a series of flops for her, she leaves him. Michael, too, has had little success on his own, so the two decide to go back to their roots and put on a musical revue featuring the Kirbys' teenage daughter, Bessie Jo. The show is a triumph, and Dennis and Marina are reunited when Michael informs his partner that she was the financial backer of the show.